Daniel, a Captive in Babylon

This chapter is based on Daniel 1.

Among the children of Israel carried captive to Babylon were men and women as true as steel to principle, who would honor God even at the loss of all things. In the land of their captivity these were to carry out God’s purposes as His representatives. They were to bear their faith and their name as worshipers of the living God as a high honor.RR 170.1

The Babylonians claimed that their religion was superior to that of the Hebrews. As evidence, they pointed out that the Hebrews were captives and that the vessels of God’s house were in the temple of the Babylonian gods. Yet the Lord gave Babylon evidence of His supremacy, of the holiness of His requirements, and of the sure results of obedience.RR 170.2

Daniel and his three companions provided outstanding examples of what people may become who unite with God. From the simplicity of their home, these youth of royal line were taken to Babylon, the most magnificent city, and into the court of the world’s greatest monarch. They were “young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand.”RR 170.3

Seeing in these youth remarkable ability, Nebuchadnezzar determined that they should be trained to fill important positions. He arranged for them to learn the language of the Chaldeans and for three years to be granted the unusual educational advantages afforded to princes of the realm.RR 170.4

The king did not compel the Hebrew youth to renounce their faith in favor of idolatry, but he hoped to bring this about gradually.RR 170.5

By giving them names based in idolatry, by bringing them daily into close association with customs of idol worship, and under the influence of the seductive heathen rites, he hoped to persuade them to renounce their religion and unite with the worship of the Babylonians.RR 170.6